Which options to get?

[Beemerman59]

So here I am, the day after the test ride and I'm about to do something silly. Order a brand new 1200GSA. And yes I really know this is not the right thing to do. You see, I have a 15 year old K1100RS which I was very happy with. It's as fast as I want, handles as well as I thought I wanted and I can fix it and service it myself. I went to a dealer to look at a first generation K12GT but it had already been sold. So I had that test ride instead. I have been totally bowled over - the grin was ear to ear after I got off it. I have scoured this forum and should see a big red flag with "Don't do it" printed all over it. But I'm fed up of being sensible. I want that bike.

The problem is I'm not rich. I'm a single parent with 4 teenagers, 3 of whom are threatening that they want to go to University. Since becoming a single parent I have had to take less rewarding (financially) employment so if I do this I don't have room for anything unnnecessary.

So what do I order on top of the base model?

GSA? Well, the closest to off road will be a campsite so maybe not. But, I'm 6'3", fit, weigh 205lb's and to some people intimidating. GSA? Yes.

Panniers? Yes. Heated grips? Yes. ABS? Yes. Fog lamps? Yes (as they are as intimidating as I am.)

But what about ESA? I did'nt use it once on the test ride. Does anyone actually use it day to day and on the hoof?

Traction control? I have not spun up a rear in 30 years - thats the skill of riding a bike. Do I need it?

To those of you who use a GSA all year round (but not prime transport) what do you find essential on yours?

 

[SonicTheHedgehog]

Panniers, grips, fogs, abs, yes all crucial.

ESA is bell/whistle/gong, however it's nice not to have to faff too much when collecting pillions or finding a nice B-road at the end of a motorway bash.

Traction control... yes. I've not spun up the rear, but I've managed to trigger it once after lifting the front augie), so it's not like I've got a lot of use out of it... but in my mind the outlay for it (especially when part of a "pack") was minimal enough to be a possible nice little safety net if I ever have a bad day.
If it stops me spitting it into a tree, it's earned it's keep and then some.
Looking at the pack prices, if you want the other stuff in the Dynamic pack then the traction control'll cost you £110...

TPC is merely shiny, ditto the OBC (although marginally more useful than the LED indies and the chrome silencer).

But, additionally, whether you order a "pack" bike or pick-n-mix from the options list will determine how fast you get your machine, if that's a factor.

I only got mine quickly because I could rationalise going for Premium/Dynamic, and my dealer knew how to work the system to find a machine with that spec in the shipping warehouse.

 

[original_concept]

TSC?

On a day long test ride of a GS, I could get the flashing orange triangle of tedium to appear when opening the throttle during normal usage and that was in the dry :-(

I didn't realise at the time it could be turned off; woulda saved a lot of swearing and laughing at the thing... doh.

Simple (free time depending!) answer is try a GS or GSA with it and see what its like.

Options:

The usual: Heaty Grips/ABS/Discounts

If you're solo piloting, ESA is probably not worth it, you can change the rear shock whilst going along as it happens.

 

[Big Nick]

Get the premium pack on it, gives you heated grips,fogs,OBC,stainless steel exhaust and ESA

 

[Deleted Member I]

So here I am, the day after the test ride and I'm about to do something silly. Order a brand new 1200GSA. And yes I really know this is not the right thing to do. You see, I have a 15 year old K1100RS which I was very happy with. It's as fast as I want, handles as well as I thought I wanted and I can fix it and service it myself. I went to a dealer to look at a first generation K12GT but it had already been sold. So I had that test ride instead. I have been totally bowled over - the grin was ear to ear after I got off it. I have scoured this forum and should see a big red flag with "Don't do it" printed all over it. But I'm fed up of being sensible. I want that bike.

The problem is I'm not rich. I'm a single parent with 4 teenagers, 3 of whom are threatening that they want to go to University. Since becoming a single parent I have had to take less rewarding (financially) employment so if I do this I don't have room for anything unnnecessary.

So what do I order on top of the base model?

GSA? Well, the closest to off road will be a campsite so maybe not. But, I'm 6'3", fit, weigh 205lb's and to some people intimidating. GSA? Yes.

Panniers? Yes. Heated grips? Yes. ABS? Yes. Fog lamps? Yes (as they are as intimidating as I am.)

But what about ESA? I did'nt use it once on the test ride. Does anyone actually use it day to day and on the hoof?

Traction control? I have not spun up a rear in 30 years - thats the skill of riding a bike. Do I need it?

To those of you who use a GSA all year round (but not prime transport) what do you find essential on yours?

DON'T BUY A NEW ONE!!


Shop around for a second hand one.


My 08 GSA has lost £3000 in ONE YEAR of depreciation
So I am keeping it until the warranty runs out ....

Even nearly new ones will be at least £2000 less than list price. If a dealer tells you the usual shit about the bikes don't depreciate, can you hit the fecker for me